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when once destroyed, even to a minute ex condition of the saliva in different individu- UNITED STATES" P'ATENTI OFFICE.

MEIER L. RI-IEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN' OR TO LIZBETH E. VAN WYGK RHEITQ',

\ OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DENTIFBICE.

Specifieatiim of Reissi ied Letters Patent. Reissued. Oct, .19, 1920,

N0 Drawing. OriginaI No. 1,297,494, dated March 18, 1919, Serial No. 220,512, filed. March 5, 1918. 1p-

plication for reissue filed August ll, 1920. Serial No. 402,888.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, MEYER L. RHEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York have invented a certain new and useful bentifrice, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore theefforts of dentists have been directed mainly, to repairing the destructive effect of caries. upon the teeth, whereas the trend of the more recent practice is the prevention of all dental disease.

The teeth are normally bathed in a salivary solution, the ,mucin or mucinate of which tends to adhere tenaciously' atdifi'erent places on the enamel surface; Salivary mucin tends to form sticky mixtures containing countless bacteria and carbohydrates and other debris from the mouth, such mucin finding lodgment against the enamel surface inthe formof a film or membrane, and sometimes contains mucin acid in solid or flake form, the same being commonly referred to in dentistry as'bacterial plaques or mucin plaques. In the'inijial stage, the presence of suchmucin adhesions or' plaques cannot be easily distinguished from'the enamel surface of the teeth, the daily accretions of such mucin adhesions renderingthetotal removal I thereof increasingly diflicult. It has been established that the bacteria present in the mucin adhesion upon the enamel surfaces produce an acid which exerts decalcifying effects upon the enamel, and such enamel,

tent, exposes the dentine to attack by the bacteria, producing caries. preventive dentistry is directed to kee ing the enamel surface free, or to a materia extent free, from such bacterial plaques and mucin adhesions, so as to preclude decay. The tenacity ofthe adhesion of bacterlal plaques and mucin adhesion to the enamel surface varies according to the character and als, but in practically all cases, the attachment is so firm and intimate that very con- Accordingly,

siderable abrasive effort is required forthe dislodgment of such plaques and-adhesions.

Dentifrices are generally of an alkaline nature, for the reason that it has been sought to avoid bringing into contact with the teeth any agent capable of aiding decalcification, the alkalinity of such dentifrices tending in a great measure to impair the efliciency thereof, more particularly as the media for the dislodgment of bacterial plaques and mucin adhesions; A weak acid solution has the efiect of curdlingthe mucin filmand of dislodging the plaques and adhesions from'the enamel surface, but; the well known decalcifying effect of some such acid solutions upon the enamel surface has actedheretofore' as a deterrent to the use of any acids in dentifrices. In the present invention however, a solid acidic substance is employed as one ingredient of the new dentifrice for the purpose of curdling andde- 7 taching the mucin plaques, under such conditions of use asto preclude all possibiL ity to decalcification arising from the presence of such acidic substance in the dentifrice.

In'order to detect. the presence or absence -'of mucin adhesions, either as a film or memdentifrice combines with the solid acidic substance a certain basic agent, preferably sodium bicarbonate which, in the presence of moisture, reacts with the acidic substance to set free carbonic acid in solution in contact with the enamel surface. The

action of the carbonic acid upon the teeth is followed immediately by, or attended simultaneously with, the production of an alkaline medium afforded by the solution of certain alkaline salts, supplemented by the natural alkaline saliva, the flow of which is perceptibly increased by the action upon the salivary glands of the carbonic acid solution employed primarily as the means for fiocculating and dislodging the mucin adhesions.

Experience shows that the presence of acids in the mouth very materially increases both the amount and alkalinityv of saliva, and, further, that weak solutions of certain forms of acid are efficacious inflocculating and dislodging. mucin adhesions upon the teeth. The stimulation by acids of the salivary flow is an important function obtained by the employment in my dentifrice of a solid acidic substance, and as such flow continues for an appreciable length of time after completing the operation. of brushing the teeth,'it is apparent that the teeth are bathed in the saliva the flow and alkalinity of which are increased so as to exert a neutralizing and cleansing effect in the mouth for a considerable period afterward, thereby precluding deleterious manifestations upon the enamel surface exhibited by erosion or disintegration. Another important feature breaking down and removal of the mucinplaques, in addition to its chemical action.

The soluble alkaline salt which it is preferred to employ is bicarbonate of soda, the same be ng supplemented by other alkaline agents, such as precipitated calcium carbonate and sodium oleate. The specified alkaline agents, singly or in combination, afford an abrasive the action of which is comparatively mild and which is also mildly alkaline, the quantity of the alkaline solution artificially produced by such agents augmenting the alkalinity of the saliva which is, as before stated, increased by the stlmulating action of the carbonic acid solution upon the salivary glands.

artificially in the mouth by the decomposition of the alkaline salts is to neutralize any destructive (e.- g. lactic) acid resulting from the presence in the mouth and in the interdental spaces of organisms resulting from food fermentation.

The froth-evolved by the solution and agitation of the sodium oleate tends to fortify the effervescent efl'ect produced by the reaction of the solid acidic substance with the Another function of the alkaline solution produced dry powder or of a paste, the solid acidic substance and the alkaline salts being in the latter case (paste form) incorporated by the Calcium carbonate (precipitated chalk) 34 lbs.

Bicarbonate of soda; 4 Sodium oleate 4 'Potassium bitartrate 8 Saccharin 1O grs. and suitable flavoring agents such as Oil of gaultheria 18 oz. Oil of peppermint 9 In the above formula, the quantities specified are for a mass aggregating 1n weight fifty pounds (50 lbs.) but of course any desired quantity may be prepared, the specified proportions being usually retained. The compounding of the mass is carried out in any preferred way, the flavoring agents being incorporated and the ingredients intimately mixed mechanically to produce an imKalpable powder. p

lthough I have stated that potassium bitartrate is used as the soluble acidic substance it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not restricted to this particular substance, for the reason that I may employ other acid salts performing the functions herein specified, such 6. g., as acld sodium citrate, and others obtainable from fruits.

The calcium carbonate and the sodiumoleate in addition to their functions as alkaline agents furnish a mild abraslve in the operation of brushing the teeth, and, furthermore, the froth due to solution and agitation of the sodium oleate tends to penetrate the interdental cavities so as to dislodge from the teeth such slimy films as are due to fatty matters derived from food.

It is apparent that the dentifrice, either as a dry powder or as a paste, should be carried in the required limited quantity by a brush to the teeth, and applied by vigorously brushing, suitable moisture being utilized either by dampening the brush or bv the addition of saliva or both, so as toe ect reaction between theacid salt and the bicarbonate of soda to thereby produce carbonic acid in solution, and concurrently therewith to produce a soapy froth. The decomposition of the acid salt and of the required moisture produces a mutual .reaction according to the general formula Tartra te KH+NaHCO Tartrate KN -}H CO From what has been'said it is apparent that the function of the acid salt is, pri-' marily, to generate aweak carbonic acid solution which curdles or flocculates the slimy mucin film or gelatinous membrane and dislodges the same from contact with the enamel surface, and, secondarily, such carbonic acid solution stimulates the salivary glands so as to' result in the flow of saliva increased materially in amount and alkalinity the effect of whichis to neutralize which carbonic acid solution, in conjunction with the abrasive effort involved in the use of the dentifrice, acts 'to' dislodge and remove the mucin adhesionsaipon the enamel of the teeth, a basic reaction in the mouth 70 being finally attained.

3. A dentifrice including an abrasive and including potassium bitartrate compounded with sodium bicarbonate mutually reactivein the mouth to produce a carbonic acid 75.

solution, which carbonic acid solution, in

conjunction with the abrasive effort inof application to the teeth and, moreover,

the salivary stimulation is enhanced by the addition of oil of gaultheria and oil of pepermint as the flavoring agents. The denti- .rice is agreeable to the taste, for the reason that the potassium bitartrate which I preferabl use is Well ada ted ,to the salivary glan s, and such dentifi'ice is sweetened by the addition of accharin. Furthermore, the dentifrice is harmless in the mouth, and no harm results should it be swallowed in even fairly large quantities.

The invention involves the fundamental J discovery that the inherently weak carbonic.

acid solution produced in contact with the.

teeth is fully effective chemically and physically to break down the mucin plaques, whose removal is then made possible'by the abrasive effort involved in the use of the dentifrice, and that even this weak acid solution is promptly neutralized so as to prevent its attack upon the enamel.

WhatI claim-is:

1. Adentifrice including an abrasive and including a solid acidic. substance, compounded with a carbonate, mutually reac tive in the mouth to produce a carbonic acid solution, which carbonic acid solution, in conjunction with the abrasive effort involved in the use of. the dentifrice, acts to dislodge and remove the mucin adhesions upon the enamel of the teeth, a basic reaction in the mouth being finally attained.

2. A dentifrice including an abrasive and including an organic acid salt compounded with a carbonate mutually reactive in the mouth to produce a carbonic acid solution,

volved in the use of the dentifrice, acts to dislodge .and remove the mucin adhesions upon the enamel of the teeth, a basic re action in the-mouth being finally attained. I 4. A dentifrice including calcium carbonate and suitable flavoring and sweetening agents, and including potassium bitartrate compounded with sodium bicarbonate mutually reactive in the mouth to produce a carbonic acid solution, which carbonic acid solution, in-conjunction with the abrasive effort involved in the use of the dentifrice, acts to dislodge and remove the .mucin adhesions upon the enamel of the teeth, a

basic reaction in .the mouth being finally attained.

5. A dentifrice including calcium carbonate and suitable flavoring and sweetelr ing agents, and a detergent andincluding potassium bitartrate compounded with sodium bicarbonate mutually reactive in the mouth to produce a carbonicacid solution, which carbonic acid solution, in con unction with the abrasive effort involved in the use of the dentifrice, acts to dislodge and remove the mucin adhesions upon the I enamel of the teeth, a basic reactionin the mouth being finally attained.

6. A dentifrice including calcium carbonate, a suitable flavoring agent, saccharin and sodium oleate and including potassium bita-rtrate compounded with sodium bicarbonate mutually reactive in the'mouth to 1 produce a carbonic acid solution, which carbonic acid solution,- in conjunction with the abrasive effort involved in the use of-the dentifrice, acts to dislodge and remove the mucin adhesions upon the enamel of the 11 teeth, a basic reaction in the mouth being 'finally attained.

7. A dentifrice includingcalcium carbonate, a suitable flavoring agent, saccharin, sodium 'oleate, and a neutral water-free agent, such as glycerin, and including potassium bitartrate compounded with sodium .bicarbonatemutually reactive in the mouth to produce a carbonic acid solution, which carbonic acid solution, in conjunction with the abrasive effort involved in the use of i the dentifrice, acts to dislodge and remove the mucin adhesions upon the enamel of the teeth, a basic reaction in the mouth being finally attained.

8. A dentifrice including. an abrasive, and the abrasive acting to dislodge and remove including a solid acidic substance and a mucin adhesions from the enamel surface, basic substance mutually reactive inthe Whereas the ensuing alkaline solution hav- 10 presence of moisture to produce an initiing neutralized the initially weak acid solu- 5 ally Weak acid solution followed by a weak tion determines a final reactive alkaline conalkaline' solution, said Weak acid solution dition in the mouth. stimulating salivary fiow, and together with MEYER L. RHEIN. 

